Compression sponge mop



Oct 15, 1963 J. G. KNAPP 3,106,736

COMPRESSION SPONGE MOP IN V EN TOR.'

fa i A I BY wwmb/f W A TTRNEY United States Patent Otiice Patented Got. 1 5, 1 963 3,106,736 CQMIRESSION SPONGE MGP James G., Knapp, Wheaton, ill., assigner, by mesne assignments, to The Draekett Company, Cincinnati, hio, a vcorporation of Ghio Filed Oct. 28, 1955, Ser. No. 543,309 8 Claims. (Cl. 15-119) This invention relates to a compression sponge mop,

and more particularly to a sponge mop of the wringen` type.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sponge mop having relatively wide sponge surfaces and means for supporting the `sponge in a plurality of angular posit-ions, while `at the same time enabling the sponge to be effectively compressed for removing moisture. A further objecrt is to provide a sponge mop normally lying in a horizontal plane which maybe folded back upon itself to provide anguLarly-related working surfaces or faces. A still further object is to provide a compression sponge mop equipped with a wringer handle which may be moved vto a plurality of positions to lock the sponge body in lfolded and unfolded positions. Yet another object is to provide a sponge mop body equipped with plates anchored to the body connected to parts for manipulating the sponge to squeeze the same. A further object is to provide a compression sponge mop equipped with a handle and means for supporting the sponge body in folded-back or substantially horizontal positions. A still further object is to provide, in combination with a relatively flat sponge body equipped with spaced plates, means connected with said plates for moving said plates toward each other to squeeze said sponge, said means including a pivotally-connected wringer handle. A further object is to provide, in connection with said pivoted wringer handle, means for moving said handle to dilerent locking positions with respect to the mop handle for hold-ing the sponge body in diiferent angular positions. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawing,V in which- FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a compression sponge mop embodying my invention, the sponge mop body being shown in folded-back position; FIG. 2, a perspective view showing the mop structure of FIG. 1 in compressed condition; FIG. 3, a perspective view of the sponge mop structure shown in a different position from that shown in FIG. 1 and in which the sponge extends generally in a horizontal plane; and FIG. 4, an enlarged sectional detail View, the section being taken as indicated at line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

In the illustration given in FIGS. l to 4, inclusive, 10 designates a sponge block which normally lies in a horizontal or flat position, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The sponge may be a cellulose sponge, cellular rubber or composition sponge, or any other suitable form of sponge useful in the cleaning of surfaces.

The sponge body 10 is preferably provided at its top With a pair of spaced metal plates 11 equipped with threaded studs 12 extending upwardly therefrom and adapted to be engaged by wing-nuts 13. The plates 11 are preferably secured to the top of the sponge body 10 by adhesive or any other suitable means, and over the plates are secured canvas or fabric strips 14 which have overlapping edge portions secured to the top of the sponge body also by adhesive.

`Centrally of the sponge body 10 I provide a groove or depression .15 which is preferably in the shape of a V-notch.

Mounted upon the top of the sponge land the plates 11 are the compression plates 16 and 17, which are provided at their inner sides with depending inclined hinge plates 18 and 19 ending in spaced hinge lingers 20 receiving the hinge pin 21. The drop hinge thus provided by the numbers 13, 19, 20 and 21 is received within the V-notch 15 formed within the sponge 10. By cutting away the sponge body at 15 to provide the notch, I provide less sponge body in the central pontion of the mop which must be compressed in the final sponge compression operation, while at the same time the positioning of the drop hinge deep within the body of the sponge provides highly eifective and uni-form wringing of the sponge body. The notch also facilitates positioning the mop in the V-shaped position shown in FIG. y1 to adapt it for cleaning corners and providing two working surfaces that may be used alternatively in the mopping operation.

To the compression plate 17 is secured a mop handle socket 22, as shown best in FIG. 4, and the socket consists preferably of an upper plate 23 and a lower or inner plate 24, the plates being left open at their sides to permit the lateral swinging of a mop handle 25. The handle 25 -is preferably provided at its lower end with a metal tube member 26 indented at 27 to receive a springurged locking pin 2S housed within the casing 29. The handle 25 and tube 26 are preferably rotatably mounted within the socket 22 by the pivot pin or rivet 30. With this structure, the mop handle may be swung to the right or to the left, and when swung to the position shown in FIG. 4, is releasably looked lin position by the engagement of the detent or pin 28 with the recess or locking indentation 27. The mop handle is restrained, however, against all movement with respect to compression plate 17 except such movement to the right or left, which is in a plane parallel to the hinge connecting plates 16 and 17. VIn other words, the mop handle is restrained against all motion with respect to plate 17 having any component -in a plane perpendicular to said hinge. To support the socket plate 24, I prefer to weld, rivet, or otherwise secure to the plate 17 a supporting bracket 31 which supports or braces the plate member 24.

'The plate 23 ofthe socket 22 is provided near its upper end with a wringer locking pin 32. In the illustration given, this pin is in the form of a rivet which is secured to the plate 23 and is provided `at its outer end with an enlarged head forming a latch portion 33.

A hollow wringer handle 34, formed of metal or other suitable material, is pivotally connected by pivot pin means 35 to upwardly-struck ears 36 carried by the plate 116. As is best seen in FIG. 4, the pivotal attachment of wringer handle 34 is located outwardly of the longitudinal center line of sponge block 10, which center line lies n substantially the same vertical plane as do hinge members 29 and 21.

The handle 34 is provided with two openings 37 and 38 adapted to selectively receive the latch pin 32. In order to cause the handle 34 to grip the latch pin effectively, I weld to the handle on the interior thereof spring retainers 39, which have a spring loop pontion receiving the latch '33 of the pin 32. It will be understood that any suitable spring latch may be provided for gripping or retaining the latch pin in one of the selected positions shown.

Operation In the operation of the structure, is equipped with the plates the top of the sponge body,

the sponge body 10 11 by cementing the same to and these are anchored firmly to 'the top of. the mop body by cementing the canvas to the upper surface of plate 16 the wringer handle 34 in the position shown in FIG. 4, the relatively wide sponge body is held in a fiat or horizontal position and engages a relatively wide area of the floor in the mopping operation. For squeezing the mop, the handle 34 is swung laterally to the position shown in FIG. 2. In this operation, the fiat hinges 18 and 19 exert a compressive pressure immediately upon the central portion of the sponge so as to press the water from this portion laterally. As the compression increases, greater pressure is exerted upon the outer portions of the sponge and the sponge body is effectively wrung throughout -its width. There is no bunching of the mop structure within the center of the sponge which prevents the effective squeezing of the outer portion of the sponge body, because of the cut-away channel or groove porion in the central portion of the mop and because further the drop hinge 2,1 swings to an outer arched position, as shown in FIG. 2, in the final movements of the squeezing operation so that the central portion of the mop is relieved and permits the pressure to be concentrated on the outer Wing portions of the folded mop body.

As seen in FIG. 2, the inner portion of handle 34 adjacent pivot 35 lies against compression plate 16 when the wringer handle is in the wringing position. However, bend 34a in handle 34 offsets the outer pontion of the handle, which is the part gripped by the user of the mop, to elevate that portion of the handle above the plane of plate 16, so as to be out of the way of liquid falling from sponge body 10 as it is squeezed.

When it is desired to provide angularly-related working sponge surfaces, the wringer handle 34 is moved upwardly to bring the opening 37 of the handle into engagement with the locking pin 32, as illustrated best in FIG. 1. In this position, the wide sponge body assumes a generally V-shaped position, providing a bottom at portion and a forward upwardly-folded portion and enabling the user to employ alternatively one of the two working surfaces in the mopping operation. In other words, the mopping may be carried on first with the lower flat portion of the mop as shown in FIG. 1, and then the mop may be turned over to bring the other clean flat surface into engagement with the oor. Also, the foldedback mop structure shown in FIG. 1 can be effectively used `for cleaning corners or borders of the room and for many other purposes. Further, in the ordinary use of the mop in the position shown in FIG. 1, the forward sponge portion serves as a buter and protects the furniture from contact with metal parts of the mop.

In the squeezing operation illustrated in FIG. 2, it will be observed that the pivoted handle 64, by reason of the pivot connection, is swung to a position where best leverage is obtained in the final squeezing operation.

From theforegoing, it will be observed that the deep sponge body 10 may be utilized in a plurality of positions to meet different use demands, the change from the horizontal to a folded-back position being accomplished in a minimum of time and without interfering with the squeezing of the mop. Further, while I have shown for the purpose of illustration two positions in which the sponge body may be utilized, it will be obvious that other openings in the wringer handle may be provided for increasing the number of positions. Also, the pin and socket connections may be reversed in position with respect to the handles, and such releasable connections may be formed in a variety of ways.

While I prefer to employ a pivotally-mounted presser handle 34 for the advantages described, it will be understood that handle 34 may in certain embodiments of my invention be fixed to the plate 16.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be i varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A sponge mop which comprises: a mop head, including two plates and a socket, said plates being ioined by a hinge and being adapted in one operating position to lie in a single plane and in another operating position to lie in two planes at an angle to each other, and said socket being secured to the upper surface of one of said plates and adapted to receive a handle, said socket restraining said handle against substantially all motion with respect to said one plate having any component in a plane perpendicular to said plate hinge, the bottom surfaces of said plates forming a mop block attaching surface; a mop handle seated in said socket; a resilient absorbent mop block; means for attaching said mop block to said mop block attaching surface; a wringing lever pivotally secured to the upper surface of the other of said plates on an axis parallel to said hinge for folding the hinged plates together with said mop block therebetween for wringing the mop block; and means carried by said mop head for selectively maintaining said other plate in one of said two operating positions, with both said plates being fixed with respect to said mop handle, to provide a plurality of angularly related sponge working surfaces.

2. A sponge mop which comprises: a mop head, including two plates and a socket, said plates being joined by a hinge and said socket being secured to the upper surface of one of said plates and adapted to receive a handle, said socket restraining said handle against substantially all motion with respect to said one plate having any component in a plane perpendicular to said plate hinge, the bottom surfaces of said platesforming a mop block attaching surface; a mop handle seated in said socket; a resilient, absorbent mop block; means for attaching said mop block to said mop block attaching surface; a wringing lever pivotally secured to the upper surface of the other of said plates on an axis parallel to said hinge for folding the hinged plates together with said mop block therebetween for wringing the mop block; and means for releasably securing said lever and mop head for holding said two plates in a plurality of selective operating positions, said positions being tixed with respect to said mop handle.

3. A sponge mop which comprises: a mop head, including two plates and a socket, said plates being ioined by a hinge and said socket being secured to the upper surface of one of said plates and adapted -to receive a handle, said socket restraining said handle against all motion with respect to said one plate having any component in a plane perpendicular to said plate hinge, the bottom surfaces of said plates lforming a mop block attaching surface; a mop handle seated in said socket; a resilient, absorbent mop block; means for attaching said mop block to said mop block attaching surface; a wringing lever pivotally mounted on the upper surface of the other of said plates, said other plate having an edge opposite said hinge, said wringing lever being pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to said hinge and disposed between said hinge and said opposite edge, said lever being swingable about its pivot for folding the hinged plates together with said mop block therebetween for wringing the mop block; and means for releasably securing said mop head and selective portions of said lever spaced from said axis for holding said two plates in a plurality of selective positions.

4. A sponge mop which comprises: a mop head, including two plates and a socket, said plates being joined by a hinge and said socket being secured to the upper surface of one of said plates and adapted to receive a handle, said socket restraining said handle against all m0- tion with respect to said one plate having any Component in a plane perpendicular to said plate hinge; a mop handle seated in said socket; a flexible, absorbent mop block; means for attaching said mop block to the lower surface of said plates; ya wringing lever pivotally mounted on the upper surface of the other of said plates, said other plate leaving an edge opposite said hinge, said wringing lever being pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to said hinge and disposed between said hinge and said opposite edge, said lever being swingable about its pivot for folding together the hinged plates and the flexible mop block for wringing the latter; and means for releasably securing said mop head and selective portions 0f said lever spaced from said taxis lfor holding said two plates in a plurality of selective positions, portions of the mop block being maintained with their working surfaces at an angle of substantially 90 to each other in one of said positions.

5. A sponge mop which comprises: a mop head, including two plates and a socket, said plates being joined by la hinge 'and said socket being secured to the upper surface of one of said plates and adapted to receive a handle, said socket restraining said handle against all motion with respect to said one plate having .any cornponent in a plane perpendicular to said plate hinge; a mop handle seated in said socket; a relatively wide, ilexible, absorbent mop block; means for attaching said mop block to the lower surface of said plates with the longitudinal axis of the block aligned with said hinge; a wringing lever pivotally mounted on the upper surface of the other of said plates, said other plate having an edge opposite said hinge, said wringing lever being pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to said hinge and disposed between said hinge and said opposite edge, said lever being swingable about its pivot -for folding together the hinged plates and the flexible mop block for `wringing the latter; and means for releasably securing said handle socket and selective portions of said lever spaced from said axis `for holding said two plates in a plurality of selective positions.

6. A sponge mop which comprises: a mop head, including two plates and a socket, said plates being positioned one behind the other and joined by a hinge, said socket being adapted to receive a handle and being secured to the upper surface of the rear one of said plates and restraining said handle against all motion with respect to said rear plate having any component in a plane perpendicular to said plate hinge; a Imop handle seated in said socket; a relatively wide, flexible, absorbent mop block; means for attaching said mop block to the lower surface of said plates with the longitudinal axis of the block aligned with said hinge; a wringing lever pivotally mounted on the upper sur-face of the forward one of said plates, said forward plate having an edge opposite said hinge, said wringing lever being pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to said hinge and disposed between said hinge and said opposite edge, said lever being swingable about its pivot for folding together the hinged plates and the flexible mop block for wringing the latter; and means for releasably securing said handle socket and selective portions of said lever spaced from said axis `for holding said two plates in a plurality of selective positions.

7. A sponge mop which comprises: a mop head, including two plates and a socket, said plates being positioned one behind the other and joined by a hinge, said socket being adapted to receive a handle and being secured to the upper surface of the rear one of said plates with its axis in a plane at 45 to said rear plate; said socket restraining said handle against all motion with respect to said rear plate having any component in `a plane perpendicular to said plate hinge; a mop handle seated in said socket; a relatively wide, liexible, absorbent mop block; rneans for attaching said mop block to the lower surface of said plates lwith the longitudinal axis of the block aligned with said hinge; a wrirtging lever pivotally 'mounted on the upper surface of the forward one of said plates, said forward plate having an edge opposite said ihinge, said wringing le-ver being pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to said hinge and disposed between said hinge and said opposite edge, said lever being swingable about its pivot for yfolding together the hinged plates and the flexible rnop block for wringing the latter; and means for releasably securing said handle socket and selective portions of said lever spaced from said axis for holding said two plates in a plurality of selective positions.

8. A sponge mop which comprises: a mop head, including two plates and a socket, said plates being joined by a hinge and said socket being adapted to receive a handle and being secured to the upper surface of one of said plates, and adapted to receive a handle, said socket restraining said handle against all motion with respect to said one plate having any component in a plane perpendicular to said plate hinge; a mop handle seated in said socket; a relatively Wide, flexible, 'absorbent mop block; means for attaching said mop block to the lower surface of said plates -with the longitudinal axis of the block aligned lwith said hinge; `a wringing lever pivotally mounted on the upper surface of the other of said plates, said other plate having an edge opposite said hinge, said wringing lever being pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to said ihinge and disposed between said hinge and said opposite edge, said lever being swingable about its pivot for folding together the hinged plates and the flexible mop block for wringing the latter, said lever being bent to offset the outer portion thereof above the plane of said other plate during wringing; and means for releasvably securing said handle socket and selective portions of said lever spaced from said axis for holding said two plates in a plurality of selective positions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 565,589 Ballam Aug. 11, 1896 843,236 Rohmer Feb. 5, 1907 1,617,329 Glover Feb. 15, 1927 1,922,621 Hertzberg Aug. 15, 1933 2,044,075 Jelenfy `lune 16, 1936 2,677,837 Channell May 11, 1954 2,722,701 Blum et al. Nov. 8, 1955 2,742,659 McGraw Apr. 24, 1956 2,750,613 Trindl lune 19, 1956 2,869,161 Cooper Jan. l20, 1959 2,897,528 Greenleaf Aug. 4, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 151,042 Sweden Aug. 9, 1955 300,882 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1954 304,665 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1955 

1. A SPONGE MOP WHICH COMPRISES: A MOP HEAD, INCLUDING TWO PLATES AND A SOCKET, SAID PLATES BEING JOINED BY A HINGE AND BEING ADAPTED IN ONE OPERATING POSITION TO LIE IN A SINGLE PLANE AND IN ANOTHER OPERATING POSITION TO LIE IN TWO PLANES AT AN ANGLE TO EACH OTHER, AND SAID SOCKET BEING SECURED TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID PLATES AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A HANDLE, SAID SOCKET RESTRAINING SAID HANDLE AGAINST SUBSTANTIALLY ALL MOTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID ONE PLATE HAVING ANY COMPONENT IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PLATE HINGE, THE BOTTOM SURFACES OF SAID PLATES FORMING A MOP BLOCK ATTACHING SURFACE; A MOP HANDLE SEATED IN SAID SOCKET; A RESILIENT ABSORBENT MOP BLOCK; MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID MOP BLOCK TO SAID MOP BLOCK ATTACHING SURFACE; A WRINGING LEVER PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE OTHER OF SAID PLATES ON AN AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID HINGE FOR FOLDING THE HINGED PLATES TOGETHER WITH SAID MOP BLOCK THEREBETWEEN FOR WRINGING THE MOP BLOCK; AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID MOP HEAD FOR SELECTIVELY MAINTAINING SAID OTHER PLATE IN ONE OF SAID TWO OPERATING POSITIONS, WITH BOTH SAID PLATES BEING FIXED WITH RESPECT TO SAID MOP HANDLE, TO PROVIDE A PLURALITY OF ANGULARLY RELATED SPONGE WORKING SURFACES. 